BILL NUMBER: AB 655	CHAPTERED  10/10/99

	CHAPTER   954
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   OCTOBER 10, 1999
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   OCTOBER 10, 1999
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 31, 1999
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 26, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 24, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 17, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 19, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Scott
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Jackson and Romero)

                        FEBRUARY 23, 1999

   An act relating to public postsecondary education, and declaring
the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 655, Scott.  Public postsecondary education:  nursing report.
   Existing law establishes the system of public postsecondary
education in the state.  Among the segments of this system are the
California Community Colleges, the California State University, and
the University of California.
   This bill would require the Chancellor of the California Community
Colleges, the Chancellor of the California State University, the
President of the University of California, and the President of the
Association of Independent Colleges and Universities to jointly issue
a report to the Governor and the Legislature with respect to a
recommended plan, that may include alternative strategies, and budget
for significantly increasing the number of students graduating from
nursing programs in the state and for providing specialty training to
licensed nurses in prescribed areas of specialization.  The bill
would require the report to be submitted on or before January 1,
2001.  The bill would apply to the University of California only to
the extent that the Regents of the University of California, by
resolution, make it applicable.
   The bill would declare that it would take effect immediately as an
urgency statute.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (1) Nationally, California ranks last among the 50 states in the
proportion of registered nurses per 100,000 population.
   (2) California is experiencing a nursing shortage that could have
serious consequences for the delivery of health care in the state.
   (3) The average age of registered nurses in California is 46
years.  Retirements are increasing each year, while the number of new
nurse graduates is stable.
   (4) As the baby boom population ages, the need for a larger
nursing work force will increase dramatically.
   (5) Waiting times for students who are interested in enrolling in
nursing programs are unacceptably long and are not consistent with
the needs of the state.
   (6) The state has used alternative strategies in other professions
experiencing shortages, including the teaching profession, and has
used methods such as increasing full-time equivalent student funding,
grants, and loan forgiveness programs.
   (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that both of the following
occur:
   (1) (A) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the
Chancellor of the California State University, the President of the
University of California, and the President of the Association of
Independent Colleges and Universities shall jointly develop a plan
and budget for both of the following:
   (i) Significantly increasing the number of students graduating
from  nursing programs in the State of California.
   (ii) Providing specialty training to licensed nurses, including
training in the nursing specialty areas of critical care, emergency,
obstetrics, pediatrics, neonatal intensive care, and operating room
nursing.
   (B) A representative from a hospital-based, board-approved nursing
program shall be invited to participate in the development of a plan
and budget pursuant to this paragraph.
   (2) In the development of a plan pursuant to this subdivision, the
offices of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the
Chancellor of the California State University, the President of the
University of California, and the President of the Association of
Independent Colleges and Universities shall jointly form an advisory
committee, composed of representatives of the Board of Registered
Nursing, the Licensing Division of the State Department of Health
Services, organizations representing licensed nurses, organizations
representing hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other
employers of registered nurses, the California Strategic Planning
Committee on Nursing, professional nursing organizations,
hospital-based board-approved nursing programs, and other interested
groups.
  SEC. 2.  Notwithstanding Section 7550.5 of the Government Code, on
or before April 1, 2000, the Chancellor of the Community Colleges,
the Chancellor of the California State University, the President of
the University of California, and the President of the Association of
Independent Colleges and Universities shall jointly submit a report
to the Governor and the Legislature.  The report shall contain a
recommended plan, that may include alternative strategies, and budget
for both of the following:
   (a) Significantly increasing the number of students graduated from
nursing programs in order to meet the state's current and future
needs of licensed nursing personnel.
   (b) Providing specialty training programs for licensed nurses,
including, but not necessarily limited to, the nursing specialty
areas set forth in Section 1, to registered nurses.
  SEC. 3.  This act shall apply to the University of California only
to the extent that the Regents of the University of California, by
resolution, make it applicable.
  SEC. 4.  This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the
meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate
effect.  The facts constituting the necessity are:
   In order to ensure that there will be a sufficient number of
nurses in the immediate future to care for the public of the State of
California, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.
